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07/06/2017

Economic Publications

Coface Survey: Corporate payments in China

A survey on corporate credit risk management, to which 1,017 Chinese companies responded, reveals that corporate payments improved in 2016, with only 68% of the respondent companies experiencing overdue payments in 2016 (compared to the previous 5-year average of 80%) and fewer respondents reporting an increase in overdue amounts. Nevertheless, the situation surrounding ultra-long overdues gives cause for alarm, as 35.7% of those companies concerned had ultra-long overdue amounts (over 180 days) which exceeded 2% of their annual turnover.

There was also a rise in the number of companies that reported average overdue times of 90 days or more in 2016 (26.3%, vs. 21.0% in 2015). Moreover, there was a particularly sharp increase in respondents (15.9%, vs. 9.9% in 2015) with average overdue times of above 150 days.

Coface’s experience has shown that approximately 80% of ultra-long overdue amounts (180 days or more) are not paid back at all. When over 2% of a company’s total annual turnover is involved in ultra-long overdues, the company’s liquidity can become an issue and its ability to repay suppliers is questionable.

A higher percentage of respondents (35.7% vs.33.4% in 2015) indicated that ultra-long overdue amounts accounted for over 2% of their total annual turnover. Moreover, there was an increase in companies (10.9%, vs. 8.7% in 2015) with ultra-long overdue amounts accounting for more than 10% of their total annual turnover. This significantly reduces cash flow, the lifeblood of a business.

Chinese companies that have suffered from non-payment of these ultra-long overdue amounts have been facing significant financial stress. This is compounded by tighter monetary and credit conditions in 2017 and the squeeze on profit margins owing to industrial overcapacity, subdued demand and keener business competition in recent years.

Among the 11 sectors analysed in the survey, ultra-long overdue issues deteriorated in the six sectors of chemicals, industrial machinery & electronics, IT-telecoms, metals, pharmaceuticals and retail.

Metals, a very high risk sector over the past few years, showed some signs of improvement, as it was boosted by restructuring and a rebound in metal prices. Many of the companies in this sector are continuing to struggle with ultra-long overdue issues – although fewer were faced with ultra-long overdue that accounted for over 10% of their turnover.

Although the long term outlook for the pharmaceutical sector is positive and supported by structural growth drivers (such as the country’s ageing population and improving per-capita income), the survey results clearly demonstrate a puzzling deterioration in overdue issues during 2016 compared to 2015. This is partially due to the rapidly evolving regulatory and policy framework, which has included the implementation of a two-invoice system, which has been tested in 11 provinces.

Risks of non-payment remained steady in the household electric & electronic appliances sector, while the four sectors of automotives & transportation, construction, paper-wood and textile-clothing, saw improvements in ultra-long overdue issues.

Despite some amelioration, construction remained China’s most at-risk sector in 2016, with 45.9% of companies (the highest percentage of respondents across all sectors) reporting 2% or more of their turnover in ultra-long overdues. 2017 will be another challenging year for highly indebted construction corporates, against a backdrop of tighter monetary and credit conditions.

The improvements in the automotive & transportation sector that were seen last year, thanks to the government’s tax incentives to boost car sales, are probably temporary. There is likely to be a bumpy road ahead, stemming from keener market competition, lower demand for cars and the rising costs of raw materials.

Coface has been conducting the corporate credit management survey in China since 2003. The 2016 survey is the 14th edition. 1,017 companies from different sectors participated in the survey, between October and November 2016. The survey provides a better understanding of China-based companies’ payment experiences and their credit management practices.